CLou's Profile

I loooved Peg Bracken's I Hate to Cookbook, especially the parts where she suggests getting those fabulous brownies from the corner bakery instead of making them yourself. Well, that and the martinis.

Hmmm, that waterfall console? Reminds me of an old refrigerator I had with "rounded" top edges, off of which slipped a full bottle of Grande Marnier. A terrible loss that was also a terrible mess to clean up.

A simplified Persian Kalam Polo -- white rice layered with chopped cabbage which has been sauteed in butter. Add a little torshi (pickled veg) and sabzi khordan (fresh herb salad) on the side and it's a meal.

Many many years ago I saw Joan Rivers in Las Vegas and she joked about tying sponges to her infant daughter's knees, then throwing her stuffed toy across the kitchen.

After a crazy commute home from work in the evening (two trains and a bus), cooking alone is my meditation. The simple act of putting on an apron and pouring a glass of wine is transformative.

Halibut simmered in a putanesca sauce is delicious. Use what's in your pantry -- chopped tomatoes, capers, black olives plus some chopped garlic and fresh parsley.

I loved being the hired help when I was in college. It was like being a hostess but without the angst and aggravation -- or having to pick up the bill.

For drinks with friends I'll be making Smitten Kitchen's roasted peppers with capers and mozzarella to serve alongside a loaf of crusty French bread.